Griffies was one of the oldest working actors in the English-speaking theatre at the time of her death at 97 years old.

She acted alongside such stars as May Whitty, Ellen Terry, and Anna Neagle.

Griffies was born in Sheffield, West Riding of Yorkshire, the daughter of actor and manager Samuel Rupert Woods and actress Lillie Roberts.

[2] Griffies appeared in numerous plays, making her theatre debut in London in 1899.

One of her last well-known roles was the elderly ornithologist Mrs. Bundy in Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds (1963).